PLANS to demolish Hagley Middle School and turn the village's education system in to a two-tier one have been approved by education chiefs.
The Schools Organisational Committee rubber-stamped a decision by Worcestershire County Council to close the Park Road school in 2004 and scrap the three-tier system.
Pupils will be accepted by Haybridge High School at the age of 11 instead of 13.
The move comes after concerns arose that there were not sufficient places at the middle school to take children coming from its four feeder primary schools in Hagley, Belbroughton, Romsley and Clent.
Haybridge High School claimed it could raise achievement levels in the new system.
It is the best performing state school in the county, with 85 per cent of pupils achieving five or more grade A* to C GCSEs.
The council conducted a referendum amongst parents, with 50 per cent favouring the move, which is part of a county-wide revamp of the education system. Plans for the school's premises are yet to be confirmed.
A decision was also made to move Blakedown First School from the Kidderminster pyramid into Hagley.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article